Oil-purifying apparatus for hydrocarbon engines



ay J. A. WATSON OIL PURIFYING APPARATUS FOR HYDROCARBON ENGINES FiledApril 13, 1925 Patented May 31, 1927.

JAMES A. WATSON, OF SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND.

OIL-PURIFYING APPARATUS FOR HYDRQCARIBON ENGINES.

Application filed April 13, 1925. Serial N0. 22,791.

The present invention relates to oil-purifying apparatus of the typedescribed in my Patent Number 1,359,453, dated November 16, 1920. Inthis type of apparatus the 011 used for lubricating the pistons, mainbearings and other moving parts of the engine isautomatically.withdrawn, while the engine is running, and passed througharefining device which withdraws the gasoline, water, and other volatileimpurities, the purified oil being returned to the crank case or otherplace of storage to be reused tor lubricating.

It is well known that the diluents of crank case oil, usually gasolineand water, leak into the crank case from the combustion chambers bypassing around the pistons and down. the cylinder walls. The object ofthe present invention is to intercept these diluents and convey them totherefining device without permitting them to mingle with the body ofoil in the crank case, thus maintaining the latter in a purer condition,

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view of a fourcylinderengine equipped with a refining apparatus embracing the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side View of the engine, partly broken away; and

Figure 3 is across-sectional view about on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

The refining apparatus proper may, for the purposes of the presentapplication, be the same as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusiveof the aforesaid Patent No. 1,359,453 and fully described in thespecification of that patent. As illustrated in the drawing of thepresent application, 10 indicates the hydro-carbon engine, 11 theexhaust pipe, 12 the intake manifold, 13 the throttle valve, 14 thecarburetor, and in the crank case.

The oil which drains from the cylinders is conveyed by suitable channelsto a special compartment or container in the crank case from which itgoes directly to the refiner. It is thus prevented from mingling withthe body of 011 in the crank case until after it has assed through therefiningapparatus. As il ustrated in the drawing, each cylinder isprovided at or near its lower end with an oil collecting groove 15,preferably in the form of a gutter adapted to contain a small quantityof oil. From the grooves 15 the oil drains through tubes 16, horizontalpipe 17 and tube 18, into a well or compartment 19 in the lower part ofthe crank case and also located preferably midway of the length of thecrank case for a purpose to be presently explained.

From the lower part of the well the oil is drawn up through the pipe 20to the re finer A, which may be of the type described in Patent,1,359,453 or of any other approved type. The volatile impurities in theoil are sucked into the intake 12 through the pipe 21 and the purifiedoil returned to the crank case through the pipe 22.

The well or compartment 19 has its upper end above the normal. level ofthe oil in the crank case and its lower end is preferably provided witha discharge opening and plug 23 to permit of drawing off solid matterwhich may collect in it. There is also preferably a small opening 21- inthe lower part of the well which afl ords a restricted communicationbetween the well and the main and the refiner through the opening 24.

Ordinarily, however the diluted oil in the well will not mix materiallywith oil in the crank case. The opening 2% may be omitted or plugged ifdesired.

This invention is. particularly desirable in multi-cyliuder automobileengines and when embodied in such engines the well 19 should preferablybe located, as shown, midway of the engine, where the oil level in thecrank case is fairly uniform whether the automobile is, horizontal.

It will be noted that the invention may be embodied in simple andinexpensive form and its use will greatly facilitate maintaining theengine lubricating oil in pure and eflicient condition. It will beobvious that the invention may be embodied in various forms in additionto that chosen for purgoing up or down grade or poses of illustration,without, therefore, limno iting myself to the particular apparatus shownand described. v

It'may happen that from the well to the refining device,

for conveying the oil from the well to the refining device and means forreturning the oil from the refining device to the reservoir, whereby oildraining from the cyllnders 1s refined before its return to thereservoir.

2. In an apparatus for purifying the oil in the lubricating system of ahydrocarbon ongiiie, the combination with the engine having an oilsupply reservoir, of a relatively small oil well separate fromthe'reservoir, means for collecting the oil which drains from thecylinders ing the same by gravity'to said well, a re- ,tining device,means for conveying the oil from the well to the refining device andmeans for returning the oil from the refining device to the reseryoir,whereby oil draining from the cylinders is refined before its return tothe reservoir.

3. In an apparatus for purifying the oil in the lubricating system of ahydrocarbon engine, the combination with the engine having an oil supplyreservoir, of a relatively small oil well separate from the reservoir,means for conveying the oil which drains from the engine cylinders tosaid well, a re fining device, means for conveying the oil and means forreturning the oil from the refining device to the reservoir, said wellbeing situated at substantially the same level as the oil supplyreservoir and communicating therewith whereby the level of the oil inthe of the engine and conveydevice,

well and the reservoir will bee substantially the same.

4. In an apparatus for purifying the oil in the lubricating system of ahydrocarbon engine, the combination with an engine having a plurality ofcylinders and having an oil supply reservoir below said cylinders, of arelatively small oil well separate from the reservoir and located midwayof the engine, means for conveying the oil which drains from the enginecylinders to said well, a ,refining device, means "for conveying the oilfrom the well to the refining device, and means for returning the oilfrom the refining device to the reservoir.

5. In an apparatus for purifying the oil in the lubricating system of ahydrocarbon engine, the combination with the engine having a. pluralityof cylinders and having an oil supply reservoir, of a relatively smalloil well separate from the reservoir, means for conveying the oil whichdrains from the engine cylinders to said well, said means includinggrooves or gutters at the lower ends of the cylinders, a refiningdevice, means for conveying the oil from the well to the refining deviceand means for returning the oil from the refining device to thereservoir.

6. A. hydrocarbon engine having a refining a crank case constituting areservoir for lubricating oil, an oil well of a relatively smallcapacity at the level of the crank case, means forv conveying the oilwhich drains from the cylinders into said well, means for conveying theoil from said well to the refining device and means for returning thepure -oil from the refining device to the reservoir in the crank case.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. I

JAMES A. WATSON.

